University of Georgia College of Pharmacy students interested in expanding their knowledge-base to include business skills now can earn their Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a Master’s of Business Administration degree with only one year added to their studies.
“The PharmD/MBA Program provides pharmacy students with the expertise needed to meet the technological, scientific and research demands of the health care industry, along with business skills necessary for professional advancement and success,” said Matt Perri, professor in the college’s Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy department and the director of this new Double Dawg program. “Students who opt for this program will have a more competitive advantage in the job market, improved opportunities for advancement, and even better chances of landing a prestigious pharmacy residency.”
The College of Pharmacy is collaborating with UGA’s Terry College of Business in this new scholastic venture. The program is open to students in the UGA College of Pharmacy beginning this fall semester. Perri said there has been a significant interest in the dual degree, and he expects about 10 students will matriculate into the program each year.
The PharmD program is a four-year (nine semesters) doctoral program. The MBA degree option adds a fifth year. Students will be able to apply to the MBA program during their second year of PharmD studies and enroll in graduate business classes during year three. Along with completing the requirements of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, students will complete the core class requirements of the MBA program, along with two electives, one of which will be a capstone course focused on experiential learning.
“Pharmacists have long needed to be more in control of their own profession,” said Perri. “They have so much to offer patients and are the most accessible health professional. Yet, pharmacists are underutilized, partly because they are not in the leadership roles at government and industry levels where policy is made. With advanced management and business skills, pharmacists can have a leading role the in the healthcare profession and create opportunities to contribute to improving public health in substantive ways.”
For more information about the PharmD/MBA Program, contact Perri at mperri@rx.uga.edu.
